Hypnotherapy as Treatment for Depression: A Scoping Review

Figures & data

Figure 1. Flowchart of Study Selection

Table 1. List of Keywords and Synonyms Generated as Search Terms

Hypnotherapy	Treatment	Depression
Hypnosis	Intervention	Major depressive disorder
Hypnotic	Therapy	Depressive symptoms
Suggestion	Remedy	Sadness
	Therapeutic	Distress
		Dysthymia
		Hopelessness
		Emotional disorder

Table 2. List of Search Strings

Search String

“Hypnotherapy” OR “Hypnosis” OR “Hypnotic” OR “Suggestion” AND “Treatment” OR “Intervention” OR “Therapy” OR “Remedy” OR “Therapeutic” AND “Depression” OR “Major Depressive Disorder” OR “Depressive Symptoms” OR “Sadness” OR “Distress” OR “Dysthymia”“OR “Hopelessness” OR “Emotional Disorder”

Table 3. Characteristics of the Included Studies

No.	Author	Title	Population characteristic	Study design	Sample	Age, gender	Treatment duration	Modality	Measure
1	Alladin et al. (2007)	Cognitive hypnotherapy for depression: An empirical investigation	Inclusion Criteria: Diagnosis of chronic major depressive disorder based on DSM-IV-TR (APA, 2000). Attainment of a minimum objective score of three on the Barber Suggestibility Scale. Being under the care of a general practitioner (GP) or psychiatrist and receiving antidepressant treatment for at least 6 months. Exclusion Criteria: Presence of comorbid conditions such as schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, current substance abuse, eating disorder, bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, organic mental disorder, pervasive developmental delay, or personality disorder.	Empirical investigation	84	36 males, 48 females; mean age range 33.67–36.50	16-week	CBT or cognitive hypnotherapy (Hetero and self-hypnosis)	BDI, BAI, BHS
2	Beevi et al. (2019)	The effectiveness of hypnosis intervention in alleviating postpartum psychological symptoms	Pregnant women in their second trimester	Quasi-experimental design	28	All female, age range 23–36	4 hetero-hypnosis sessions during weeks 16, 20, 28 and 36 of pregnancy; engaged in self-hypnosis as an at home practice task during the pre and postnatal phase.	Hetero and self-hypnosis	DASS-21, EPDS
3	Butler et al.(2008)	Meditation with yoga, group therapy with hypnosis, and psychoeducation for long-term depressed mood: A randomized pilot trial	Inclusion criteria: Diagnosis of depressive disorder based on DSM-IV (APA, 1994), with the additional requirement that depressive symptoms had persisted for a minimum of 2 years without a remission of 2 months or more. Age 18 years and above. Sufficient proficiency in English. Ability to attend weekly meetings at Stanford University. Exclusion criteria: Comorbid conditions such as bipolar or depressive disorder with psychotic features. Current or past psychosis. Current primary diagnosis of panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, or posttraumatic stress disorder. Current drug or alcohol dependence. Active suicidal ideation. Significant medical condition that could interfere with participation in meditation or yoga. Current participation in individual or group psychotherapy or a meditation group. Initiation of prescribed antidepressant medication or St. John’s Wort within the previous 3 months.	Randomised pilot study	46	26% are male,74% are female; age range 20–80	Meditation group: 8 weekly group sessions and additional 40-min booster session in week 12. Group therapy with hypnosis intervention: 10 weekly sessions and additional 2-hour booster session in week 12.	Group meditation or group hypnosis (hetero and self-hypnosis)	SCID, HRSD, CDRS-SR
4	Chen et al. (2017)	Hypnosis in the treatment of major depression: An analysis of heart rate variability	Inclusion Criteria: Diagnosis of major depression based on DSM-IV. Absence of a history of myocardial infarction, diabetes, arrhythmia, alcohol abuse, head injury, epilepsy, or other psychiatric illnesses. No previous use of antidepressant drugs. Subjects had not consumed caffeinated drinks within 24 hours prior to the study procedure.	Empirical investigation	25	6 males, 19 females, age range 22–45	3 sessions	Hetero hypnosis	HRV
5	Dobbin et al. (2009)	A benchmarked feasibility study of a self-hypnosis treatment for depression in primary care	Inclusion criteria: Individuals with a recent episode of depression, whether a first attack or a recurrence. Patients for whom the general practitioners (GPs) intended to prescribe antidepressant medication. Exclusion Criteria: Presence of comorbid conditions such as bipolar depression or psychoses. Current alcohol and drug use. Experience of a depressive episode within the previous 6 months. Active suicidal ideation.	Partially randomised preference trial (PRPT)	58	Self-hypnosis preference: 20% male, 80% female; Antidepressant preference: 25% male, 75% female; Bedi counselling randomized: 31% male, 69% female; Bedi antidepressant randomized: 16% male, 84% female; Ward CBT randomized: 21% male, 79% female; Ward counseling randomized: 22% male, 78% female; Ward treatment as usual randomized: 25% male, 75% female; Proudfoot Computerized CBT and treatment as usual: 27% male, 73% female; Proudfoot treatment as usual: 25% male, 75% female. Age range: 18–65 years	12-Week	Medicine or self-hypnosis	BDI-II, BSI, SF-36
6	Fuhr et al. (2023)	Long-term outcomes of depression treatment with hypnotherapy or cognitive behavioural therapy	Inclusion criteria: Current mild to moderate major depressive episode (MDE) according to DSM-5 (APA, 2013). Confirmation of MDE: Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I (SCID-I; First et al., 1997). Medication allowance: Stable course of antidepressant medication for at least 2 months. Exclusion criteria: Lifetime diagnoses of bipolar disorders, psychotic disorders, chronic depression, high suicidality, active alcohol or drug dependence, posttraumatic stress disorder, or anorexia nervosa. Patients who had received outpatient psychotherapy within the last 12 months.	RCT	136	Gender not specified; age range 18–70	20 weekly sessions	CBT or hypnotherapy (hetero and self-hypnosis)	PHQ, LIFE
7	Fuhr et al. (2021)	Efficacy of hypnotherapy compared to cognitive behavioural therapy for mild to moderate depression - Results of a randomized controlled rater-blind clinical trial	Inclusion Criteria: Diagnosis of major depression based on DSM-V. MADRS (Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale) baseline scores < 35. Age between 18 and 70 years. Patients who are currently on antidepressant medication should have been on the medication for a minimum of 3 months without planned changes during the duration of therapy. Exclusion Criteria: Patients with a lifetime diagnosis of bipolar disorder or psychotic disorder. Chronic major depression with a duration of 2 years or longer. Current severe major depressive episode, as determined by SCID-I (Structured Clinical Interview for DSM Disorders) or MADRS scores above 34. Acute suicidality. Patients who have been in remission from the current depressive episode for four weeks or longer. Patients with other severe primary mental disorders, such as severe personality disorder of the borderline type with self-injury. Active alcohol or drug dependence. Current diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder or anorexia nervosa. Patients who have attended another outpatient psychotherapy within the last twelve months.	RCT	152	52 males, 100 females; age range 18–70	16–20 sessions	CBT or hypnotherapy (hetero-hypnosis)	MADRS
8	González-Ramírez et al. (2017)	Effectiveness of hypnosis therapy and Gestalt therapy as depression treatments	Inclusion Criteria: Diagnosis of slight to moderate depression. A score ranging from 10 to 29 on the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI).	Quasi-experimental design	30	9 males, 21 females; age range 23–35	6 sessions	Hypnosis or Gestalt hypnosis (hetero-hypnosis)	BAI
9	Greene (1973)	Combining rational emotive and hypnotic techniques: Treating depression	Inclusion criteria: Acute depression	Case study	1	Female, 28-year old	4-months	Rational emotive and hypnosis (hetero-hypnosis)	Not specified
10	Khazraee et al. (2023)	The effectiveness of mindful hypnotherapy on depression, self-compassion, and psychological inflexibility in females with major depressive disorder: A single-blind, randomized clinical trial	Inclusion Criteria: Score above 28 on the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II). Diagnosis of major depressive disorder (MDD) according to DSM-V. Age range between 18 to 50 years. Education level of at least a high school/secondary school diploma. If receiving psychiatric medication, the dosage and type of medication should have remained stable in the last 3 months before the start of the study and remain stable during the study period. Available for 8 weekly sessions. Exclusion Criteria: Individuals who are unwilling to continue treatment. Presence of serious suicidal thoughts and a plan to attempt suicide. Individuals receiving psychological interventions at the same time or within the last 6 months. Recent substance abuse. Diagnostic indicators or a history of borderline personality disorder (BPD), bipolar disorder, psychosis, or schizophrenia due to contraindication with hypnosis.	RCT	31	Female only, age range 18–50	8 sessions	Mindful hypnotherapy (hetero and self-hypnosis)	BDI-II, SCS-SF,AAQ-II
11	Matheson (1979)	Modification of depressive symptoms through posthypnotic suggestion	Depressive symptoms	Case study	1	Female, 39-year old	Not specified	Hetero-hypnosis	Not specified
12	Shakil (2020)	Integration of hypnotherapy with brief cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) for treatment of depression	Diagnosis of depression, with the symptoms of low mood throughout the day with crying spells, changes in appetite, insomnia, lack of energy, loss of interest in routine activities negative thoughts, poor concentration, and feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness and indecisiveness.	Case study	1	Female, 25-year old	8 sessions (2 sessions per week)	CBT with hypnotherapy (hetero and self-hypnosis)	BDI, GAFS
13	Shi et al. (2022)	Study on the improvement of sleep quality and emotional status of patients with depression by hypnosis and cognitive behavioral therapy	Inclusion criteria: Meeting diagnostic criteria for depression based on the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10).	Empirical investigation	70	Not specified	Not specified	Medicine or CBT with hypnosis (hetero-hypnosis)	PSQI, SDS, WHOQOL
14	Yexley (2007)	Treating postpartum depression with hypnosis: Addressing specific symptoms presented by the client	Postpartum depression	Case study	1	Female, 27-year old	2-session	Hetero-hypnosis	Not specified

CBT is cognitive behavioral therapy; HRV is heart rate variability; BDI is the Beck Depression Inventory; BDI-II is the Beck Depression Inventory (revised version); BAI is the Beck Anxiety Inventory; BHS is the Beck Hopelessness Scale; DASS-21 is the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21; EPDS is the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale; BSI is the Brief Symptoms Inventory; PSQI is the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index; SF-36 is the Short Form Quality of Life Questionnaire; SCID is the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM Disorders; HRSD is the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression; CDRS-SR is the Cornell Dysthymia Rating Scale-Self Report; PHQ is the Patient Health Questionnaire; LIFE is the Longitudinal Interview Follow-Up Evaluation; SCS-SF is the Self-Compassion Scale-Short Form; AAQ-II is the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II; GAFS is the Global Assessment of Functioning Scale; SDS is the Self-Rating Depression Scale; WHOQOL is the World Health Organization Quality of Life.

Table 4. Various Approaches and the Therapeutic Outcomes of Hypnotherapy

No.	Author	Approach and technique	Therapeutic effect and outcome
1	Alladin and Alibhai (2007)	Group 1: CBT based on the manual by Beck et al. (1979). Group 2: Cognitive hypnotherapy, which included CBT supplemented by hypnotic procedures such as hypnotic induction, ego-strengthening, expansion of awareness, positive mood induction (developing anti-depressive pathways), posthypnotic suggestions, and self-hypnosis.	Specifically, the cognitive hypnotherapy group experienced larger improvements in depression scores (BDI-IIa; p < .05), anxiety scores (BAIb; p < .01), and hopelessness scores (BHSc; p < .05) from pre-treatment to post-treatment. These improvements were sustained at 6-month and 12-month follow-ups for anxiety scores (p < .05) and hopelessness scores (p < .05). The effect size calculations (Cohen’s d) revealed medium to large effects for the cognitive hypnotherapy group in these metrics compared to the CBT group both at the termination of treatment and the 12-month follow-up. Participants in the cognitive hypnotherapy group reported continued use of self-hypnosis tapes post-treatment, citing benefits in relaxation and morale. These findings suggest that cognitive hypnotherapy may offer more sustained and effective outcomes in treating depression, anxiety, and hopelessness compared to CBT, though the study was limited by its focus on mild to moderate cases of depression.
2	Beevi et al. (2019)	Group 1: Experimental group; hypnotherapy intervention focused on alleviating psychological symptoms such as anxiety and stress, as well as physical symptoms like nausea and vomiting. It included hypnotic induction, progressive muscle relaxation under hypnosis, ego-strengthening, positive suggestion, and self-hypnosis. Group 2: Control group.	Statistical analysis using the DASS-21d scale showed no significant differences between the experimental and control groups in the overall comparison (t (25) = .927, p = .363, d = .36). Despite this, a closer examination of specific mental health outcomes revealed key distinctions. The experimental group displayed lower levels of anxiety symptoms, with scores averaging 28 ± 3.01, compared to the control group’s average of 38.36 ± 58.81. This difference was statistically significant (t(25) = −2.431, p = .023, d = .85, 95% CI = −65.550 to − 5.428). Depressive symptoms also differed significantly between the groups: the experimental group averaged 1.25 ± 2.41 compared to 6.73 ± 5.68 in the control group (t (25) = −3.457, p = .002, d = 1.26, 95% CI = −8.741 to − 2.214). Regarding postpartum depression, assessed using the EPDSe, the experimental group had a much lower prevalence rate of 3.6% as opposed to 32.1% in the control group. Further, none of the participants in the experimental group reported suicidal ideation, as assessed by item 10 on the EPDS. In contrast, five participants in the control group selected “hardly ever” (rating of 1), and one participant chose “sometimes” (rating of 2) for the same item.
3	Butler et al. (2008)	Group 1: Meditation and yoga exercise (inner resources program, hatha yoga, breathing techniques, guided breathing imagery, and mantra repetition). Group 2: Group therapy with formal hypnotic inductions (positive affect, increasing the modulation of affect, generating alternative responses, exploring life themes, and significant life events related to participants’ current mood, self-hypnosis, relaxation and affect regulation, “here-and-now” group therapy, and supportive-expressive psychotherapy). Group 3: Control group.	A chi-square test of independence revealed a statistically significant difference in the rate of remission between the meditation cohort and the control group (χ^2(1, N = 27) = 4.64, p = .031, Cramer’s V = .41). However, the hypnosis cohort did not manifest a statistically significant differential when juxtaposed with the control group in terms of remission. Concurrent treatment modalities were also scrutinized. Among participants who achieved the clinical threshold for remission, 39% were engaged in auxiliary psychotherapy and/or pharmacotherapy. This percentage was 41% for those who failed to meet remission criteria. The distribution across the cohorts was as follows: 5 participants in the meditation cohort, 1 in the hypnosis cohort, and 3 in the control group were undergoing auxiliary treatment and achieved remission. In terms of the proportion of participants achieving remission, data indicate a 77% remission rate in the meditation cohort, 62% in the hypnosis cohort, and 36% in the control group. Intriguingly, incident major depressive episodes were exclusively reported in the control cohort, thereby suggesting potential prophylactic benefits of the interventions under investigation. However, no statistically significant group differences were discerned in the longitudinal decline of symptomatology. These empirical findings contribute to the growing body of literature affirming the potential utility of meditation and hypnosis as adjunctive therapies in the management of chronic depressive disorders. Noteworthy are the superior remission rates and absence of emergent major depressive episodes in the intervention cohorts.
4	Chen et al. (2017)	Three conditions were implemented as follows: Pre-hypnotic condition: Subjects were instructed to breathe normally with their eyes closed and remain still without any movement. Imagination of a pleasant and peaceful scene: Participants were guided to engage their subconscious and tap into positive energy. The aim was to modify their perception, sensation, emotion, thought, or behavior through the power of imagination and suggestion. Post-hypnotic condition: Subjects were asked to continue breathing normally with their eyes closed and maintain a still position without any movement.	Statistical analysis revealed a significant modulation in HRVf parameters across the hypnotic and posthypnotic phases. Specifically, during the hypnotic condition, patients manifested elevated values in key HRV indices including mean RR intervals (MEAN), standard deviation of all RR intervals (SDNN), root mean square of the successive differences (RMSSD), the standard deviation of the points perpendicular to the line-of-identity (SD1), the standard deviation of the points along the line-of-identity (SD2), and high-frequency power (HF). The posthypnotic phase was marked by a similar uptick in various HRV parameters such as MEAN, SDNN, RMSSD, the percentage of RR intervals that are more than 50 ms different from the previous interval (PNN50), SD1, SD2, low-frequency power (LF), and HF. Additionally, the low-frequency to high-frequency ratio (LF/HF), an index often utilized to gauge sympathetic-vagal balance, was observed to increase more significantly in the posthypnotic state. These results collectively indicate that hypnosis exerts a modulatory influence on the autonomic nervous system of major depressive patients, as evidenced by changes in HRV measures.
5	Dobbin et al. (2009)	Three options were available for participants: Self-help, self-hypnosis therapy: Participants had the choice to receive self-help therapy utilizing self-hypnosis techniques. (Psychoeducation, relaxation, mindfulness, setting of conditioned triggers, visualization of mental room, a safe place, self-hypnosis, increase self-confidence, desensitization, hypnotic skill training, associate with past positive experiences and bring those to present, distancing and reframing of past events from a safe place, increase self-esteem, problem-solving, vision for the future). Antidepressant medication: Participants could opt to take antidepressants as prescribed by their general practitioner. Randomization to treatment groups: Participants had the possibility of being randomly assigned to either of the treatment groups.	At a 12-week follow-up, the study found notable differences between the two groups. Those who underwent hypnosis had better scores on the BSIg and BDIh, indicating a more significant reduction in depressive symptoms compared to those on antidepressant medication (p = .012 for BSI and p = .004for BDI). Furthermore, when it came to general health and vitality, as measured by the SF-36i, the hypnosis group also showed significant improvements. For general health, the significance level was p = .012, with a confidence interval ranging from 5.1 to 37.9 for the effect size. For vitality, the significance was even stronger with a p-value of .003 and a confidence interval of 1.3 to 46.6 for the effect size. In summary, this study suggests that hypnosis may be more effective than antidepressant medication in not only reducing depressive symptoms but also in improving general health and vitality.
6	Fuhr et al. (2023)	Group 1: Received hypnotherapy based on the manual by Wilhelm-Goessling et al. (2020). The hypnotherapy techniques included self-hypnosis, time progression, relapse prevention, and ego structure. Group 2: Received CBT based on the German version of Beck’s CBT manual (Beck, 1979; Hautzinger, 2013). This CBT intervention consisted of two modules that addressed relapse prevention, specifically targeting early warning symptoms and risk situations.	Regarding full remission rates, a majority of patients (72.8%) achieved full remission for at least 8 weeks. In terms of achieving full remission, the majority of all patients—72.8% to be exact – reached this threshold. While the CBT group had a slightly higher remission rate at 77.9%, compared to 67.6% in the hypnotherapy group, this difference was not statistically significant, meaning it could have occurred by chance. The study also looked at the time it took for patients to reach full remission. On average, it took 37 weeks for the hypnotherapy group and 27 weeks for the CBT group. Again, this difference was not statistically significant. In summary, both hypnotherapy and CBT appear to be equally effective in achieving full remission from depressive symptoms over time, based on this study. Neither the rates of remission nor the time it took to achieve it showed any significant differences between the two treatment approaches.
7	Fuhr et al. (2021)	Group 1: Hypnotherapy based on the manual by Wilhelm-Goessling et al. (2020), incorporating techniques to promote emotional activation and reinforce personal resources. This includes utilizing emotionally positive and negative experiences from the individual’s biography, developing positive solution imagery, formal trance induction, utilization techniques, various types of metaphor, and ego structure. Group 2: CBT based on the manual by Hautzinger (2013), employing techniques such as psychoeducation, behavioral activation, cognitive restructuring techniques, problem-solving skills, and interpersonal skills.	Researchers used two different types of samples to conduct this analysis. The first, known as the Intention-to-treat sample, included all 134 participants, regardless of whether they completed the treatment. The second, called the Per Protocol sample, also had 134 participants but focused only on those who adhered to the treatment guidelines. In the Intention-to-treat sample, the average percentage of symptom reduction was only 2.8% different between the hypnotherapy and CBT groups. The 95% CI for this difference ranged from − 9.85 to 15.44. In the Per Protocol sample, the difference was slightly higher at 4.0%, with a 95% CI of − 9.27 to 17.27. Importantly, these differences fall within a pre-specified range that researchers use to say whether one treatment is “non-inferior” to the other. In this case, the data suggests that hypnotherapy is at least as effective as CBT for reducing symptoms. Even better, follow-up assessments at six and twelve months after the treatments ended support these findings. This suggests that both hypnotherapy and CBT have long-lasting benefits. In summary, the study indicates that hypnotherapy is comparable to CBT in its effectiveness for treating depression, both in the short-term and over an extended period.
8	González-Ramírez et al. (2017)	Group 1: Therapeutic hypnosis (specific techniques not specified). Group 2: Gestalt Hypnosis Therapy (specific techniques not specified). Group 3: Control group (passive listening).	In statistical terms, the control group demonstrated no significant modulation in their depressive symptomatology, as evidenced by an F(1, 18) value of .00 and an associated p-value of 1.00. In contrast, both intervention groups – hypnosis and Gestalt hypnosis – exhibited statistically significant improvements in their posttest scores when compared to their respective baseline measures. For the hypnosis group, the F(1, 18) value was calculated to be 12.19 with an associated p-value of .003, while the Gestalt hypnosis group yielded an F(1, 18) value of 15.65 with a corresponding p-value of .001. Subsequent comparative analyses of post-intervention scores revealed significant between-group differences. Specifically, the hypnosis cohort demonstrated statistically significant improvements compared to both the control group and the Gestalt hypnosis group, as substantiated by an F(2, 27) value of 11.82 and a p-value of less than .000. In contrast, no such statistical difference was discerned between the Gestalt hypnosis cohort and the control group. In summation, while both hypnosis and Gestalt hypnosis evidenced therapeutic efficacy in reducing depressive symptomatology, the empirical data suggests a superior treatment effect associated with hypnosis.
9	Greene (1973)	The Rational-Emotive approach focuses on teaching clients how their thoughts influence their emotions and assists them in recognizing and modifying irrational thought patterns. Hypnosis techniques utilized in this approach include visual fixation, relaxation procedures, traditional hypnotic tests, and posthypnotic suggestions for self-relaxation.	The effectiveness of the treatment was assessed through self-reported measures and clinical observation. Post-intervention evaluation revealed significant improvements in the patient’s emotional well-being. Specifically, the patient no longer experienced the intense feelings of guilt and depression that were initially observed. In terms of behavior, the patient reported improved sleep quality, corroborated by her decision to discontinue physician-prescribed sedative medication. In summary, the therapeutic intervention appeared to be highly effective in improving both emotional and behavioral symptoms.
10	Khazraee et al. (2023)	Group 1: Mindful hypnotherapy (includes techniques such as present-moment awareness, non-judgmental awareness of bodily sensations, non-judgmental awareness of thoughts and feelings, self-hypnosis, cultivating compassion for self and others, awareness of personal values and meaning in life, integrated mindfulness, termination/transition to long-term practice). Group 2: Waitlist control group.	Statistical analysis revealed robust effects in favor of the intervention. Specifically, significant reductions in depressive symptoms were observed both immediately post-intervention and at the 2-month follow-up (p < .001) for the intervention group. Longitudinal analysis corroborated these findings, showing a significant temporal effect on depressive symptoms within the intervention group. Between-subjects analysis yielded a highly significant main effect for time across both groups (F = 53.86, p < .001, effect size = .65). This result was further substantiated by an analysis of covariance, confirming significant distinctions between the mindful hypnotherapy group and the waitlist control group at both assessment points (p < .001). In addition to improvements in depression, the intervention group demonstrated clinically significant gains in self-compassion (F = 33.18, p < .001, effect size = .53) and reductions in psychological inflexibility (F = 26.84, p < .001, effect size = .48). In summary, the empirical data strongly supports the efficacy of mindful hypnotherapy in significantly reducing depressive symptoms while concurrently enhancing self-compassion and reducing psychological inflexibility.
11	Matheson (1979)	Psychotherapy with hypnosis includes various techniques aimed at addressing depressive dynamics, reducing guilt, enhancing self-esteem, providing relaxation training, inducing positive mood, and utilizing age-regressive techniques.	The assessment was conducted post-therapy and extended to a one-year follow-up. Significant improvements in mood and behavior were observed shortly after the initiation of therapy, specifically targeting the fourth behavioral objective. These therapeutic gains facilitated the patient’s discharge from the hospital within a few weeks following the commencement of treatment. During a one-year follow-up, the patient reported only a single brief episode of suicidal ideation occurring six months post-therapy, which they interpretatively described as a “cleaning out” process. No additional incidents were reported. The patient also noted substantial improvements in their coping mechanisms, community engagement, and familial relationships. These self-reported outcomes were further verified by the patient’s spouse, adding an external dimension of validation to the findings. In summary, the data suggests a robust and enduring therapeutic effect, highlighted by the patient’s discharge from the hospital and sustained improvements in mood, behavior, and quality of life.
12	Shakil (2020)	Hypnotherapy with brief CBT (psychoeducation, identification of the connection between thoughts and feelings, cognitive disputation, hypnotic induction, ego strengthening, journaling, generate alternative thoughts, self-hypnosis, problem-solving, anchoring, imagery relaxation, positive imagination, relapse prevention).	Within a limited timeframe of 3–4 sessions, the client exhibited marked improvements in multiple domains. Specifically, her ability to control negative thought patterns and generate positive cognitive alternatives improved. Quantitatively, her depression rating on the BDI demonstrated a significant decrease, plummeting from an “extremely high” category (90%) to a “normal” range (40%). Additionally, the client reported enhanced attention and concentration, increased energy levels, and renewed engagement in daily activities and social interactions. Self-hypnosis was identified as a key therapeutic element contributing to these positive outcomes. Follow-up sessions indicated sustained benefits while also revealing minor residual anxieties and insecurities. These were targeted through further therapeutic interventions, thereby refining the treatment approach. In summary, this case provides robust evidence for the effectiveness of short-term therapeutic intervention, inclusive of self-hypnosis, in substantially reducing depressive symptoms and enhancing overall well-being.
13	Shi et al. (2022)	Group 1: Received a combination of CBT and hypnotherapy alongside medication. The specific strategies employed were not specified. Group 2: Served as the control group and received medication only.	Initially, there were no statistically significant differences in PSQIj scores, SDSk scores, or quality-of-life metrics between the observation and control groups. Post-treatment assessments, however, revealed distinct improvements for both cohorts compared to their baseline measures. Importantly, these improvements were more pronounced in the observation group across all evaluated domains, reaching statistical significance in comparison to the control group. In essence, the data indicate that the intervention delivered to the observation group led to meaningful and statistically significant improvements in sleep quality, depressive symptomatology, and overall quality of life, outperforming the control group. These outcomes highlight the therapeutic efficacy of the treatment, warranting further investigation in larger, more diverse samples.
14	Yexley (2007)	In the first hypnotherapy session, the following key objectives were addressed: 1) Retrieval of positive affect associated with feelings of safety, connectedness, and confidence; 2) Exploration of past experiences to identify emotions that parallel the client’s response to infant distress; 3) Suggestions for self-parenting to promote resolution and the development of alternative responses; 4) Transference of these altered responses to future experiences. During the second hypnotherapy session, the focus shifted to unresolved grief. Three metaphors of grief were utilized to achieve the following objectives: 1) Facilitating a stage-based normalized grief process; 2) providing adaptive ways of honoring deceased loved ones; and 3) alleviating guilt experienced by surviving loved ones.	After only two hypnotherapy sessions, the patient self-reported cessation of symptoms and consequently canceled the appointment for the third session. Notably, she reported no longer experiencing any thoughts of harm toward her infants. Additionally, assessment of her grief-related symptoms indicated successful emotional processing and resolution; she was neither avoiding nor obsessively focusing on her past losses. A five-month follow-up, conducted via a telephone interview, corroborated the sustainability of these therapeutic gains. The patient-maintained symptom-free status, and normal maternal-infant interactions were reported. In summary, this case study provides preliminary evidence supporting the potential efficacy of hypnotherapy in rapidly resolving severe postpartum symptoms and facilitating emotional well-being. The sustained benefits, confirmed at a five-month follow-up, further suggest the long-term utility of this approach.

CBT is cognitive behavioral therapy. CI is confidence interval.

^aBDI-II is the Beck Depression Inventory (revised version). ^bBAI is the Beck Anxiety Inventory. ^cBHS is the Beck Hopelessness Scale. ^dDASS-21 is the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21. ^eEPDS is the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. ^fHRV is heart rate variability. ^gBSI is the Brief Symptom Inventory. ^hBDI is the Beck Depression Inventory. ⁱSF-36 is the Short Form Quality of Life Questionnaire. ^jPSQI is the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. ^kSDS is the Self-Rating Depression Scale.

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Data Availability Statement

The raw data supporting the conclusion of this article will be made available by the authors, without undue reservation.